“We had definitely hoped to try to make bigger moves this offseason, to be honest,” he said. “Having said that, it takes two partners to make a trade, so we focused on longterm trying to build the club. We think we’re a better team now — positioned for the future, some new young talent and even more draft picks — but it’s been a patient summer so far, and I’m not always the most patient guy.”

“I don’t want to talk about anybody else’s player, but I would say this is Brad Stevens‘ first offseason,” added Grousbeck. “Actually, when I think about the offseason, I think about Brad evaluating our players and working with [Celtics president of basketball operations] Danny [Ainge] to evaluate the college talent, and it’s actually meshed really well. They were very much in synch on draft night, so that’s a positive for me. Brad is so excited to be here and to be building this thing. He’s impatient as well, but his work ethic is extraordinary.”

“I’m really happy for LeBron [James], which is not something I ever thought I would say,” he said. “I’m happy for Cleveland, which is something I never really thought I would say. It makes me feel good about the NBA. The NBA is in a golden era right now, and LeBron has a lot to do with that. And this move just shows his quality.”

While Cleveland’s fortunes have reversed rather quickly, the Celtics continue to plod along what may prove to be a far longer road back to NBA championship contention than Grousbeck would have preferred.

“We’re lucky we got to the top of that mountain one time,” he told Bradford prior to Sunday’s Red Sox game. “It makes you all the hungrier to get back. Actually, now that we’re here at Fenway, I asked John Henry after his second what it was like, and he said it was better than the first, and I hope to have that feeling some day. We’ll see.”